Frontpage (Archives)

Isn’t it true national unions are really structured to benefit themselves, not the local unions?

(This Q&A is part of a continuing series that we introduced with the “Taking a Hard Look at Our Future Starts with Asking the Hard Questions” article) AFT’s Model Is Different This may be the case for some national unions, but in our exploration and examination of AFT, we found a different model.  In our in depth discussions with AFT, it was clear that their focus is creating and expanding the labor movement, not to support themselves, but the greater good of [...]

2023-11-13T16:30:22-10:00November 13, 2023|Affiliation, Frontpage, Newsletter|

Taking a Hard Look at Our Future Starts with Asking the Hard Questions

It’s a Good Time to Revisit Affiliation Since 2013, UHPA has been functioning as an independent union without a national affiliation. The UHPA board of directors voted to disaffiliate with the National Education Association (NEA) back in 2013 because it was the right thing to do at that time. Now 10 years later, the landscape is changing and perhaps it is a good time to revisit an affiliation with a national union. Affiliation with a larger, national union offers multiple benefits. However, [...]

2023-12-05T17:38:13-10:00November 8, 2023|Affiliation, Frontpage, Newsletter|

Should UHPA Consider Affiliation with the American Federation of Teachers?

This Q&A is part of a continuing series that we introduced with the “Taking a Hard Look at Our Future Starts with Asking the Hard Questions” article University faculty across the nation are facing an increasing number of threats to academic freedom and equitable treatment, yet at the same time, there has been a decline in dues-paying union members. This has put faculty in a precarious position. The intersection of these dangerous trends has caused forward-looking local unions to look at ways [...]

2023-11-08T15:19:19-10:00November 8, 2023|Affiliation, Frontpage, Newsletter|

UHPA: 50 Years of Strength In Numbers

Next year, UHPA celebrates its 50th anniversary as the exclusive bargaining agent for UH faculty. It’s a huge milestone. While UHPA has evolved over the years, it has and always will be driven by the fact that there is strength in numbers and that delivering competitive wages, better working conditions, protecting academic freedom and governance for faculty must be of foremost importance. Recognizing The Need to Organize Since 1970 A historical trip back into time shows that when the Hawai‘i State Legislature [...]

2023-11-08T10:54:19-10:00October 30, 2023|Affiliation, Frontpage, Newsletter, Why UHPA|

Let’s Prepare For The Coming Battles

Our higher education colleagues across the nation are being put through the wringer, and it has not been easy to stomach. There is a haunting feeling that the University of Hawai‘i faculty will one day find themselves immersed and directly facing these same types of situations. Faculty Increasingly Affected by Labor Disputes Labor disputes are on the rise at universities across our nation over concerns about inflation, working conditions, academic freedom, and other governance issues. Many of these battles have intensified to [...]

2023-11-08T10:54:28-10:00October 27, 2023|Affiliation, Frontpage, Newsletter, Opinion, UHPA Organizational|

Pick up Your Member-Only UHPA Shirt On Campus

Stand in Solidarity with Style! From left: Dwight Takeno, Sarah Beamer, Joe Sam, Jim Kardash and Christian Fern (back), and Jamie Mow and Rovena Varde (front). Missing: Kathy Yamashita. For all UHPA members who ordered their UHPA custom-designed polo shirts in December, your shirt has come in! Kāhala, the manufacturer of these quality, dry-fit shirts promised our official UHPA shirts would arrive for the fall 2023 semester, and they have kept to their schedule.  As you can see from the photo above, [...]

2023-12-06T17:31:01-10:00September 13, 2023|Campus Specific, Frontpage, News Flash|

UHPA Expands Leadership Team

This week, UHPA gladly welcomed Jamie Mow to our leadership team as an associate executive director. “We’re glad to have Jamie on our team to broaden the capabilities of our leadership team and to prepare UHPA for the future.” said Christian Fern, UHPA executive director. “Jamieʻs background will be a valuable asset to the UHPA team.” Jamie has extensive leadership and legal affairs experience. Prior to joining UHPA, Jamie had been an investigator and compliance officer with Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard’s Office [...]

2023-09-13T10:34:44-10:00September 13, 2023|Frontpage, News Flash, UHPA Organizational|

Welcoming Our Members to Fall 2023

Aloha UHPA Members: Welcome back! I hope you all enjoyed a well-deserved summer break and are ready for the fall semester. Our Hearts Go Out For Maui I’m sure the Maui wildfires are top of mind for many of you. Over the past three weeks, we have seen the tremendous devastation to Lahaina and cannot help but feel a deep sense of loss. Our hearts go out to those who have lost loved ones or have suddenly become houseless as a result [...]

2023-08-31T23:03:18-10:00August 31, 2023|Academic, Frontpage, Newsletter|

Aloha Kekahi I Kekahi

There are no words that can describe the devastation, loss, and tragedy that occurred in Lahaina, Maui.  The incident has impacted so many families who have lost so much, not to mention the loss of life. As an island state, we are all connected and feel the loss either personally or emotionally. Kōkua  UHPA was informed that three of its Lahaina members have been significantly impacted by the incident and unfortunately lost their homes or were displaced.  As we pray for those [...]

2023-09-01T06:36:45-10:00August 31, 2023|Commentary, Frontpage, Newsletter|

Political Action Fund Notice

The University of Hawaii Professional Assembly (UHPA) has an active Political Endorsement Committee that has participated in state & federal elections through political endorsements, contributions to candidates and independent expenditures on behalf of our endorsed candidates. The UHPA Board of Directors has taken action to allocate from the dues of all UHPA Active members an amount of $5.00 a month to be placed in a Political Action Fund. The Fund will be subject to the accounting requirements and used for purposes consistent [...]

2023-09-01T11:33:58-10:00August 30, 2023|Frontpage, Newsletter, Political, UHPA Organizational|
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